Osinbajo To Fellow Aspirants: No Need For Animosity Amongst Us

May 20, 2022

The Vice President and front line Presidential aspirants under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Yemi Osinbajo has cautioned fellow aspirants to avoid breeding animosity towards themselves.

Addressing delegates of the ruling party in Rivers State today, May 20, Osinbajo said that despite the number of presidential aspirants in the party, everyone must rally around whoever emerges as the presidential candidate of the party.

He emphasized that there is no need for hostility among presidential aspirants as the ultimate goal remained the country’s unity, adding: “we are all progressives. We represent the same point of view that this country can be better; that we can improve the fortunes of our young people; that our country can be a great place. Every one of us has that desire, and every one of us can achieve that, given the chance.

“Everywhere I’ve gone, I’ve pointed out that there is no need for conflict of any kind, especially among presidential aspirants. All of us, who are presidential aspirants, have either worked together or eaten together in one place or the other. We are aspirants today, but only one person would emerge, and we must be prepared to work with that person.

“We are also, of course, completely at one on the idea that the party needs to be united. So, everything that needs to be done is being done and will be done to ensure the unity of the aspirants.

“Our party is, as you know, not just the ruling party, but the party that has the greatest potential to do the best for this country.”

Osinbajo, speaking on his consultations with the delegates, said: “what we spent our time doing today was talking more about national issues, about issues of development; and we all affirm that we have to do a lot of work; we are willing and able to do the work.”

e-Naira Will Soon Push Paper Naira Out Of Circulation, CBN Predicts

Editorial staff

May 20, 2022

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has predicted that the emerging e-Naira will soon push paper currency out of circulation.

The Delta State Branch Controller of CBN, Godwin Okafor, who said this today, May 20 at the popular Ogbogonogo market during the market sensitization on e-Naira, advised the traders to key into the central bank’s e-Naira policy.

He said: “We are here at the market today to sensitise the market people on the use of e-Naira. It is fully backed by CBN, unlike Bitcoin which has no legal backing.”

The consultant of CBN on e-Naira, Dr. Aminu Bizi, said that Delta was chosen as the second state to sensitise market women on e-Naira after Lagos.

“We are here to sensitise market men and women, shop to shop on the use of e-Naira. CBN has gone behind ATM, POS, therefore, we are going to meet the Okada/tricycle union on this policy.

“Paper currency will soon be out of circulation because CBN spent money to print money and people abuse the currency in the market, spraying at the occasion, payment of Okada/tricycle and others and CBN is losing”

He said that the use of e-Naira was effective, charges free unlike ATM and POS and cannot be hacked by fraudsters.

In his remark, the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Patrick Ukah, applauded CBN for the e-Naira initiative.

Ukah who was represented by the Director of Finance and Account in the office of SSG, Mr. Benson Ojoko, said the state was delighted with CBN programmes, describing e-Naira as a laudable programme that has placed Nigeria in international finance.

Buhari Joins Hundreds In Prayers For Late UAE President In Abu Dhabi

Editorial staff

May 20, 2022

President Muhammadu Buhari has joined Muslim faithfuls to observe special Friday (Jummah) prayers, at which prayers were said for the repose of the soul of the late President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The President, with members of the Nigerian delegation, arrived the Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed The First Mosque early today, May 20 to witness the prayers.

In a sermon titled: “Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the loss of the Nation,” read at all the Friday Mosques across the country, the Chief Imam, Sheikh Ali Alhamoudi, expressed gratitude to God for the life and legacies of the late President.

He described the late President as a forerunner in charitable works and humanitarian initiatives, saying, through his efforts numerous mosques and hospitals were built, schools and universities were founded, while cities and institutions were established.

”Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed (may Allah have mercy on him) was always close to the people with his excellent morals and character. He was well-known among them for his praiseworthy qualities in this regard, and our prophet said: ‘The dearest and the closest of you to me on the Day of Resurrection will be those who are the best in character.’

The Imam said that Sheikh Khalifa promoted the principles of justice in the UAE, so that all within the country could live within it in peace and equality, regardless of their religions and nationalities.

On the new leadership, the Imam said Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was chosen by the Emirates and its rulers, its Sheikhs and its people, bearing the great trust of the nation and the great responsibility to lead the UAE towards global leadership.

Prayers were offered for the success of the new president, the Vice-President, the Crown Prince and his brothers, and the Rulers of the Emirates.

Significance Of President Buhari’s Visit To United Arab Emirates, By Garba Shehu

Editorial staff

May 19, 2022

The visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) starting today, Thursday, May 19, by President Muhammadu Buhari signifies the importance attached to Nigeria’s ties with the prosperous Arab nation.

President Buhari will be meeting the new President of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to convey his condolences on the passing of the former president and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, His Highness, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The President will also be congratulating Sheik Mohammed on his emergence as the new ruler of Abu Dhabi and President of the UAE.

It must be said that Sheikh Mohammed’s emergence, much as it was expected following his brother’s death, his election by the Federal Supreme Council on 14 May 2022 came with a resounding vote of confidence by the rulers of the seven Emirates making up the UAE.

Although the constitution says that any of the seven Emirs could have been elected as President, it didn’t take their meeting five minutes to arrive at a unanimous decision in favour of the then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

For the past few years, precisely with the coming of President Muhammadu Buhari’s presidency in 2015, the long-standing commercial ties between Nigeria and UAE have transformed from, basically a relationship between friendly states, to one exploding fully to that of allies and in so short a period, forming one of the strong pillars of our strategic partnerships.

This it must be said, is owed primarily to the personal chemistry of the two leaders, Muhammadu Buhari and the then Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed, now ruler of Abu Dhabi and President of the UAE. The very high regards in which their government holds our President has led to the strengthening of institutional relationships and with that, a growing bond of ties between the leaders and the citizens.

With government-to-government relations at their optimal levels, this has led to better and more impactful government-to-business and business-to-business relationships.

To show how serious this is taken by the administration, the President followed up his participation at the last UAE Investment Summit with the setting up of a committee under Professor Ibrahim Gambari, the Chief of Staff, to follow up on all the lines of engagement.

Much earlier than this, relations between the two leaders had opened the door to the conclusion of discussions, and the signing of nine solid bilateral agreements and Memoranda of Understanding, MOUs.

Agreements and MOUs are the tokens in international relations that speak to the state of actual relations.

Before the coming of this administration, there hadn’t existed one signed agreement or MOU between the two states.

Barring any serious delays following the 40-day mourning period already declared, the UAE is expected to host the next round of the Nigeria-UAE Joint Commission, in June or July at which event eight more agreements, now being worked upon will hopefully be ready for signature.

Nigeria has very strong economic and defense ties with the UAE.

The countries, which are trying to strengthen their post-COVID recovery, are banking on strategic partnerships to further commercial ties.

UAE which is today a recognized financial and manufacturing hub and has shown, to our admiration, a remarkable willingness for energizing our industry to industry cooperation, which will help strengthen the post-COVID economic recovery in both countries.

Sheikh Mohammed is once credited with a statement, saying that “security in Nigeria means security for Africa. If there is no security in Nigeria, we cannot say there is security in Africa.”

Flowing from this, they have helped us to curb illicit financial flows to the Boko Haram terrorist organization. Also ongoing are military procurements and supply to the Nigerian Armed Forces of seriously needed hardware.

A few weeks ago, a brand new warship for the Nigerian Navy was commissioned in Dubai and has set sail to Nigeria. The Nigerian Army just procured 100 Mine Resistant Armoured Personal Carriers (MRAPS) from the UAE.

As the President interfaces with these leaders, it is expected that issues of regional and global importance would come up but I must restate that the main focus of this visit is to condole the government and the people of the UAE and to welcome the new Ruler and President.

Assuredly, this visit will boost the friendship between Nigeria and the UAE. An early engagement with new leadership in the UAE, within a few days of its fully coming on board, will be helpful to identify their priorities for the medium and long term.

Garba Shehu is Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity, wrote from Abuja.

CBN Worried Over Farmers Regarding Anchor Borrowers Loans As Share Of National Cake

Editorial staff

May 19, 2022

File photo of President Buhari presenting check to beneficiary

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is worried that many farmers have refused to repay the loans advanced to them under its Anchor Borrowers Programme on the basis that the money is their share of the national cake.

“Many of the farmers refused to pay back their loans due to misconception that since CBN is the lender, the loan is a ‘national cake’ and they do not have to pay back what they consider theirs as citizens.”

Speaking at the Agribusiness Innovation Clinic in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, Sadeeq Ajayi, in CBN Development Finance Department, said that inability of the apex bank to recover the loans from the defaulting farmers had threatened the scheme and prevented other farmers from accessing the facility.

“This attitude has made it difficult for other farmers, who also want to access the loan, to benefit from the scheme.”

According to Sadeeq Ajayi, majority of farmers in Oyo State, who benefited from the scheme have not repaid their loans, adding: “while the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme has recorded some level of success, the failure of farmers to repay the loans has, however, been a major setback.”

Sadeeq Ajayi said that stakeholders, including the traditional rulers, should appeal to the defaulting farmers to promptly repay the loans for the sake of others.

“Of course, we are engaging various stakeholders and we expect the narrative to change very soon so that more people can have access to the fund,” he said.

In a keynote address, Olasukanmi Olaleye, the Oyo State Commissioner for Trade, Industry, Investment and Cooperatives, lauded the initiative of GAIN to tackle malnutrition in the country.

Olaleye, represented by Mukaila Oladipo, a Deputy Director in the ministry, said that food fortification is one of the safest, most effective and affordable ways of addressing the micronutrient gaps in the country.

Also, Godwin Ehiabhi, a Senior Project Manager, GAIN Nigeria, said that improved access to safe and nutritious food would reduce the country’s high rate of poverty.

The clinic entitled: “Fostering Innovation and Collaboration Across the Agricultural Value Chain” was organised by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN).

Anchor Borrowers Programme is an agricultural loan scheme launched in 2015 by the Federal Government, through CBN, to provide loans (in kind and cash) to small holder farmers to boost agricultural production, create jobs, reduce food import bill toward conservation of foreign reserve.

Source: NAN.

83 Million Nigerians To Enjoy From National Health Insurance, As Buhari Signs The Bill

Editorial staff

May 19, 2022

No fewer than 83 million poor Nigerians who cannot afford to pay premiums as recommended by the Lancet Nigeria Commission, are set to now enjoy from the National Health Insurance Authority with the signing into law, of a Bill to that effect, by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Known as National Health Insurance Authority Bill 2022, the bill replace National Health Insurance Scheme Act, Cap N42, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

Speaking at the signing today, May 19, President Buhari said that a Fund will be set up “to ensure coverage of 83 million poor Nigerians who cannot afford to pay premiums as recommended by the Lancet Nigeria Commission.

“For the large number of vulnerable individuals who are not able to pay health insurance premiums, a Vulnerable Group Fund will be set up to include a component of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund due to the Authority, Health Insurance Levy, Special Intervention Fund, and any investment proceeds, donations and gifts to the Authority.”

The President announced that the Authority will collaborate with state government Health Insurance Schemes to accredit primary and secondary health facilities and enroll Nigerians into the scheme in order to ensure the delivery of quality health care.

Senior special assistant to the President on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu described the new Act will enable the Authority and state governments to develop information management systems and digital records for better data collection, monitoring and quality assurance.

President Buhari tasked the Health Reform Committee to work with state governments, the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Health Insurance Authority to ensure the implementation of the articles in the new Act.

Court Ruling On Area Council Tenure Elongation Throws Abuja Into Confusion

Editorial staff

May 19, 2022

A High Court ruling directing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to suspend the inauguration of the newly elected Chairmen and Councilors, whose three-year tenure is supposed to end today, May 19, has thrown the Administration into confusion.

According to the judgment, based on the recently signed Electoral Act of 2022, which stipulates that the tenure of office of the Chairmen of the Area Councils in FCT would now be four years instead of three years, the existing Chairmen whose tenure were meant to expire or end today, have another one year to continue, based on the new law.

In a statement today, the Minister, Muhammadu Musa Bello said: “as an administration that is very conscious of the need to abide by the rule of law, even though we are not satisfied with the judgment of the court, we have no option but to comply.

“While complying, we are also making efforts to vacate the judgment and if need arises, to appeal the judgment, so that the correct position of the law will be determined by the legal processes.

“In the interim therefore, we are very conscious of the fact that the stand of the court has raised a lot of concerns within certain sections of the Federal Capital Territory residents.

“I wish to appeal to everyone to be calm, to be law abiding and to await the outcome of the legal processes. FCT is a creation of law. The FCT has always been known to be a place of unity, peace and good governance and populated by law abiding residents.”

The minister stressed that as a law-abiding government, the FCT Administration has no option than to suspend the planned inauguration of the Six Area Council Chairmen of the Federal Capital Territory who were duly elected some weeks ago as a result of this injunction of the court.

“Please let us continue the way we are and await the court processes. At the end of the court processes, the clear direction of what needs to be done would be clearly stated and then as an administration, we will do the needful.”

It would be recalled that in March of 2019, Area Council elections were held in the Federal Capital Territory, whereby Six Council Chairmen and their Councillors were elected after a very competitive and rigorous process.

These six Council Chairmen of the FCT were then inaugurated on the 20th of May 2019, under the 2010 Electoral Act.

Based on that Act, the tenure of the Chairmen would end today and the new Chairmen, based on the elections held in February this year, would be sworn in tomorrow MMay, 20.

Criminals Behind Dei Dei Market Crisis, Minister Observes; Orders Full Investigations

Editorial staff

May 19, 2022

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has attributed the violent riot that led to the killing of four people, to criminal elements that cashed-in on a situation that could have been controlled.

The minister, who visited the market yesterday, May 18 shortly after the incident, to ascertain the cause and extent of the violence said: “after an emergency security meeting with the relevant security agencies, including the Commissioner of Police and the Director of the DSS and senior management officials of the FCT, we decided to come here.

“And we came here specifically because on the social media, all kinds of stories are being circulated saying there is an inter-ethnic crisis in Abuja with one tribe fighting against the other. “I have come here and met the leadership of the market, I have met the leadership of the communities and met the political leadership as represented by the Chairman and vice chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council, and what really came out very clearly was that this was an accident that occurred when a lady on a commercial motorcycle fell off and a vehicle ran over her and unfortunately, she passed on.

“As a result of this incident, tension rose and hoodlums took over and like they do everywhere in the world, their target is economic assets and they burnt down a substantial part of the timber market and other markets around here and they burnt many vehicles.

“There was no communal clash here and I appeal to all residents of Abuja to continue to live here as we have always lived in peace as the center of unity.”

The Minister called on the community leaders to work at fishing out the bag eggs within their folds and help in bringing them to justice. He said “What I told the community leaders is that they have to fish out the hoodlums and the bad eggs amongst them. This is because this time around, hoodlums carried arms and they shot innocent people. This is very sad and totally, unequivocally, unacceptable in Abuja.

He said that a full scale investigation will be carried out by the security organisations with the full collaboration of the affected communities and added “I am appealing to other communities within the FCT that this is not a tribal or religious misunderstanding. All the leadership of the various stakeholders have lived here in peace for many, many years.

“It is simply a matter of criminals and hoodlums taking the law into their hands and I implore every community in the FCT to ensure that community leaders identify miscreants, drug pushers, drug dens and drinking joints where crime and criminality takes place. The police and the military cannot be everywhere at the same time.

Reacting to a request by one of the market leaders that the police presence in the market be improved, the Minister pledged that the police post in the market will be upgraded and the FCT Administration will provide the needed support while the police commissioner equally pledged more personnel.

While commending the efforts of the security agencies and community leaders for their efforts in containing the violence, Malam Bello prayed for the repose of the souls of those who lost their lives and ordered the immediate closure of the timber market and adjoining markets.

Malam Musa Bello also ordered the immediate ban on all trading activities along the road sides and directed that all transactions be carried out within the shops.

The minister was accompanied by the Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council, Abdullahi Adamu Candido, FCT Commissioner of Police Sunday Babaji and other top security and senior officials of the FCTA. The Minister met with the various market and community leaders and took an assessment tour of damage in the market.

No Crisis In Lugbe, Abuja – Police Commissioner

Editorial staff

May 19, 2022

Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, Babaji Sunday, has debunked a video making the rounds on social media platforms about an incident said to have happened in Lugbe, FCT Abuja.

“The CP wishes to state categorically that there is no such incident in Lugbe as he is currently on patrol with operatives around the Lugbe-Airport Road axis.

A statement by the Command’s spokesperson, Josephine Adeh said that the Commissioner had asked all well-meaning members of the Abuja Community to go about their lawful duties as the police is on its toes to ensure the safety of their lives and property.

Russia, Ukrainian War: Global Food Crisis Looms – IMF, World Bank

Editorial staff

May 19, 2022

International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group have expressed concern over the looming food crisis across the globe as a result of the war between Russia and Ukraine.

The two world financial institutions have therefore come together to working on arrangement to tackle the crisis.

In a statement, IMF Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, on the publication of the Joint International Financial Institution Plan to Address Food Insecurity said: “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has created a crisis on top of a crisis around the globe with countries facing food shortages and sharply higher prices for food, energy and fertilisers.”

This is coming on the heels of a meeting of International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and global leaders convened by the US Treasury on April 19 “Tackling Food Insecurity: the challenges and call to action, “the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the African Development Bank (AfDB), Asian Development Bank (ADB), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the World Bank, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) have worked together to formulate a joint action plan to address food security. According to the plan, the IFIs will pursue actions to step up, surge, and scale their work across six priority goals: (i) support vulnerable people; (ii) promote open trade; (iii) mitigate fertiliser shortages; (iv) support food production now; (v) invest in climate-resilient agriculture for the future; and (vi) coordinate for maximum impact.

According to Georgieva, “these pressures occur at a time when countries’ public finances are already stretched from the pandemic and debt burdens are high. With inflation reaching the highest levels seen in decades, vulnerable households in low- and middle-income countries are most at risk of acute food insecurity. And history has shown that hunger often triggers social unrest and violence. If we have learned one lesson from the 2007-08 food crisis, it is that the international community needs to take fast and well-coordinated actions to tackle a food crisis by maintaining open trade, support vulnerable households, ensure sufficient agricultural supply, and address financing pressures. I am glad that the heads of the International Financial Institutions worked together to propose concrete actions ( add hyperlink to the action plan).

“Coordination between us will be critical for the plan to have maximum impact in quickly alleviating food insecurity, especially for the most vulnerable households in the most vulnerable countries. Working closely with the World Bank and other International Financial Institutions, the IMF will provide policy advice, capacity development assistance, and financial support to help further catalyze and complement financing from other institutions. The IMF is investing in its monitoring capacity to allow for timely identification of countries with the most pronounced financing pressures, especially fragile and conflict-affected states, which will particularly be affected by food insecurity.

“The IMF is working with country authorities on macroeconomic frameworks and policy priorities. A critical area of focus is to assist countries in their efforts to rapidly improve social safety nets to protect vulnerable households from the imminent threat of hunger. Helping members identify ways to safeguard food security without resorting to export restrictions has been another priority. These policy objectives are reflected in the IMF’s program engagement. IMF financing support for Moldova and Mozambique, for instance, includes a focus on strengthening social safety nets for vulnerable households. The IMF will also bring to bear its new Resilience and Sustainability Trust, which will provide affordable longer-term financing for countries facing structural challenges, and intensify efforts with the World Bank and others to support debt restructurings where needed.”

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